Decorative blocks.



L. SCHEPMOES.

DECORATIVE BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FlLED JAN-29,1917- v Patented June 4, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- LINDSLEY SCHEPMOES, OF HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, NEW JERSEY.

DECORATIVE nnocns.

Application filed January 29, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LINDSLEYSCHEPMQES, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at 'Hasbronck Heights, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Decorative Blocks, of whichthe following is a specificatign. I I

- This invention has reference to decorative blocks, and, particularly, to a means by which innumerable designs may be produced and the blocks may be interlocked or interunderstood, I have provided drawings wherein Figure 1 is a plan of one of my blocks or units; Fig. 2' is a plan ofanother of my blocks or units;

Fig. 3 is a section substantially on the line 3 3, Fig.1;

Fig. i is a plan of a finishing block;

' Fig. 5 is a plan of a section of a partially made-up design; and

' Fig. 6 is a plan of a portion of a made-up design differing in characteristics from that of Fig. 4.

It should be understood that the scheme of my invention, from one aspect, is carried out through the medium of two primary or unit blocks, formed to have interlocking relation, and adapted to be disposed interchangeably with others of similar structure to carry out the design effects indefinitely, regardless of whetherv the blocks are used as tiling, coverings, linings, or are used for printing, stenci1ing, etc. This will be understood from the followin detail description. A finishing block is a so used, as will be described.

One of the essential feat'uresof my invention is a block or other structure 1, such as shown in Fig. 1, which is in the form of an isosceles polygon, the base or longest edge or side 2 of which is provided with a wedge-shaped projection or tongue 3 disposed equidistantly between the ends of said Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 4, 1918.

Serial No. 145,061.

base 2. The polygon thus produced has: the l right-angle 4, the'acute angles 5' and 6 at opposlte ends of the base 2, the intermediate angles 7 and 8 between the ends of the base and at the junction of the tongue therewith, I

and the two angles 9 and 10 at theo posite ends of the tongue. The compl men blo k 11 is identical in form and dimensions with that of the block 1, excepting that, in place of the Wedge Shaped tongue or projection-3,

a correspondingly wedge-shaped groove or recess 12 is formed within the block midway between the ends of the longest side or base, thus producing the terminal tongues 13 and 1 1 in the general form of scalene triangles,

which cooperate with. the opposite ends of the wedge-shaped tongue 3 and base 2 of the block 1. These two principal blocks or units are the key to the production of many designs or structures possible of formulation according to my invention.

In order to enable the designs,.or the building up of the designs, to'be produced accurately and uniformly, the end walls or edges of the tongues or projections 3 should,

at the points a, be equidistant from the base 2 and outer side of the tongue 3, and this is also true of the groove or recess 12 of the block 11, corresponding points a being indicated as equidistant from the bottomot the groove 12 and the bases 15, 16, respectitrely,

ot' the tongues 13, 14. ..These points a are also equidistant from threeperpendiculars to the bases 3 or 12, as the case may be, said perpendiculars being dropped from the vertices of angles 4, 5 and 6, respectively. The

points a having been thus located, the sides of the tongue 3 ofblock l ,shouldbe reciprocal with the correspondin sides of the groove of the, block 11, and said sidesshould.

be formed by a straight line intersecting the point a, or formed by cyma curves, intersecting and reciprocal, each side of the point a. By thus constructing the tongues and grooves of blocks such as l and 11, the

unique structural arrangement, such as shown. at. the bottom of 5, can be readily brought about. v v

To carry out the further'feature of my invention, each of the blocks 1 and'11 is correspondingly lined, surfaced, ornamented, or' otherwise provided with ornamental or geometrical figures or indicia, in the instance shownin Figs. 1 and 2, in the form of parallel lines, which may be disposed so as to give, to both the surface of the block and superficial lining or ornamentation of the several blocks, I locate the points I) of each blockon the edges or sides 17,- 18, which are of equal length, equidistant from the' angle 4 and the respective angles 5 and 6.

On the respective blocks, all lines or bands or other indicia of ornamentation or other characteristics are duplicated and terminate 'along or with respect to the respective sides or edges 17 and 18 of the blocks, equidistant from the points I) to the angle 4 and to the angles 5 and 6, respectively. On the tongue 3, the terminals of the lines or bands, etc., at the ends of said tongue are juxtaposed with reference-to, andcorrespond with, similar lines or bands, etc.,.on the tongues 13, 14;,

and their terminals at the inclined Walls of the groove 12 of the block 11, and,-said lines, etc., are also duplicated equidistant each side of points a on the ends of the tongue 3 and the inner ends of the tongues 13, 14:. If, in

order to add to the ornamental elfects, contrast'i'ng colors are introduced between the terminals of the lines or hands along the sides 17 and 18 or along the ends of the. tongue 3- and'groove 12, andsaid colors are continued in any direction or in any configuration on the surface of the blocks, the disposition of said colors at the sides of the blocks 1 and 11 will exactly correspond so that the surface ornamentation of the blocks can be made to produce innumerable artistic efl'ects, uniform and regular in character. This will be readily understood, since the corresponding colors on the respective blocks, when the latter are interlocked or juxtaposed,

' as shown, in Fig. 5, will he contiguous and continuous throughout the area of the blocks, which are juxtaposed. This is clearly shown in Fig. -5, as well as in Fig. 6, which latter illustrates a difi'erent scheme of surface ornamentation of the respective blocks par-- tially carried out.

In order to complete the design, pattern, structure, or whatever the blocks may be adapted to produce, I have provided a'finish- 1 ing block 19, Fig. l, of a form corresponding to the groove or recess 12 in the block 11; and such block may be lined, ornamented, or marked correspondingly, or contrastmgly,

with the tongues 13, 14 of block 11, as may be desired according to the eflects sought.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that essential features of my invention are the form of the units or blocks 1 and 11, enabling them to exactly and symmetrically interlock indefinitely throughout indefinite areas, and the primary scheme of surface ornamentation of the respective blocks, founded upon characteristics which bring about continuity of the basic design on the respective blocks throughout the area of the figure, regardless of the extent thereof. And it will also be understood that the basic motif of the parallel lines enables the development of a variety of surface configurations-and ornamentations composed of bands of contrasting colors or ornamental effects, which, when the predetermined area is completed by the requisite number of interlocking blocks, will extend in, continuity from block to block, or medium employed, throughout the surface of the area and produce uniformly symmetrical design figures or characteristics.

lines or bands or ornamental characteristics i This is primarily secured by making all the of the blocks intersect or approach the sides of the latter at predetermined angles and in 1 such widths asf'to be. reciprocal and continuous when the blocks are juxtaposed. Fig.

6 shows how this basic motif can be indefinitely extended and varied by the use of pairs of' blocks having different surface treatment or ornamentation; and, in this figure, it will be noted that the center motif consists of a plaid design wherein the lines, bands or characteristics of the respective blocks join and continue across the base lines 2 of the block 1 and of the tongue 3, and the base lines 15, 16 and bottom of the groove 12 of the block 11. v

I desire it understood that the basic motif on surface ornamentation herein described is not confined to the polygonal form of blocks, which I have described and shown in F igs. 1 and 2, but may be applied to other forms of blocks, provided the juxtaposing principle of the blocks be substantially maintained, whereby, when they are arranged contiguously, the opposite ends of the parallel lines, bands or other ornamental characteristics, or elements thereof, will join with similar characteristics oncontiguous blocks, so that the effects on one will'be continued on to and through the others.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily understood that my interlocking blocks, with or without surface ornamentation, may be employed for the various purposes set forth and that, with surface ornamentations of predetermined characterist'cs, indefinite ornamental designs and beautiful effects can be produced adapted for tiling, flooring, wall paper, wall linings or coverings, etc., and, when desired, for printing types, stereotypes lithographing plates, stencils, and, in fact, for innumerable purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a decorative medium having two straight, uninterrupted and equal edges converging-to an angle, and a third edge, connecting said two edges, having means for interlocking with another medium. j

. 2. As an article of manufacture, a decorative medium having two straight, uninterrupted and equal edges converging to an angle, and a third edge, connecting said two edges, having a locking tongue projecting therefrom. 3. In combination, a pair of interlocking media, each of which has two uninterrupted and equal edges converging to an angle, and each of which has a third edge, connecting said two edges, provided with means wherebythe said media maybe interlocked when juxtaposed.

4. As an article of manufacture, a decora'- I tive medium made in the form of an isosceles polygon the equal edges of which converge to an angle, are straight and uninterrupted, and the polygonal characteristics being carried out by the provision of a tongue extending from the body of the medium on one edge thereof.

5. As an article of manufacture, a polygonal decorative figure having two uninterrupted sides of equal length converging to an angle, and another side joining said two sides from which projects centrally an angular locking tongue.

6. As an article of manufacture, a polygonal decorative medium having two uninterrupted edges of equal length converging to an angle, and another edge joining said two edges having centrally disposed means for interlocking with another medium.

7. In combination, a pair of interlocking media. each of which is in the form of a right-angle triangle, and the perpendiculars of which are straight and uninterrupted, and each of which media has means on its hypotenuse whereby the same may be interlocked when juxtaposed.

8. A decorative block in the form of a right-angle triangle the perpendiculars of which are straight and uninterrupted, said block having a tongue projecting from its hypotenuse, in combination with a block of similar size in the form of a right-angle triangle the perpendiculars of which are ing a groove in its hypotenuse, said tongue and groove having characteristics whereby the two blocks may be interlocked and intimately juxtaposed.

a wedge, in combination with a block of sub straight and uninterrupted, said block havblock in the form of an stantially similar form, having a groove in the body thereof corresponding in shape to the tongue of the first-named block, whereby the twoblocks may be interlocked and intimately juxtaposed.

10. As anarticle of manufacture, a decorative figure in the form of an isosceles polygon having one of its surfaces provided with decorative characteristics disposed at an angle to a majority of its sides and terminal ing at said sides, and the polygonal character-i tics being carried out by the provision of means enabling it to interlock with a block of cooperating characteristics.

11. As an article of manufacture, a polygonal decorative medium having two uninter rupted edges of equal length converging to an angle, and another edge joining said two edges having means for interlocking with another mediunr saidmediuin having one of its surfaces provided \vitl'rfilecorative characteristics disposed at an angle to said uninterrupted edges and terminating' at said edges. I

12. In combination, a lurality of blocks of substantially similar fdrni having means whereby they may be interlocked and intimately associated to produce any predetermined structure; each of said blocks being provided with substantially similar surface ornamentation, the characteristicsof which are such as to produce a continuity of the respective design lines or characteristics from one block to the other throughout the area of the structure.

13. In combination, a plurality of media; each of said media being provided with surface ornamentation, the characteristics of which are such as to produce a continuity of the respective design lines 01' characteristics from one media to the other throughout the area of the structure when the media are intimately juxtaposed to produce any predetermined structure, and said media having means by which they may be interlocked without disturbing their decorative continuity.

14. In combination, a plurality of figures in the form of isosceles polygons, having structural means whereby they may be inti- 115 mately interlocked indefinitely, each of said figures being provided with a surface ornamentation, the characteristics of which are such as to produce from. figure to figure throughout any structure or area made 120 thereof, a continuity of the respective design lines or characteristics, whereby highly ornamental effects can be produced with regularity throughout a predetermined area of interlocking figures.

15. As an article of manufacture, a decorative medium having one of its surfaces provided with ornamental motifs, elements of which latter are arranged so as to have a different relation to different edges of the 1.80

said medium, and which elements are arranged to terminate substantially at one or more edges of said medium so that said elements may be carried over from medium to medium of a juxtaposed group of the latter and vary the ornamental composition according to the arrangement of said media,

' substantially as described.

16. As an article of manufacture, a decorative medium having one of its surfaces provided With a plurality of different ornamental motifs, elements of which latter are arranged so as to have a different relation to different edges of said medium, and which elements are arranged to terminate substantially. at one or more edges of said medium so that said elements may be carried over from medium to medium of a juxtaposed group of' the latter and vary the ornamental composition according to the arrangement of said media, substantially as described.

17. In combination, a plurality of decorative media, each of which latter has one of its surfaces provided with ornamental composition of varying characteristics, elements of which varying characteristics are thehypotenuse and the others with a groove in the hypotenuse, said tongues and grooves having their sides disposed and shaped so that the blocks may be interlocked and intimately juxtaposed to produce any predetermined structure regardless of whether blocks having a tongue alternate with blocks.

having a groove, or whether all blocks have a groove, or all blocks have a tongue.

19. A set of polygonal decorative figures each of which is of substantially similar size and each of which has two uninterrupted sides of equal length converging to an angle, and each having another side joining said two sides; some of said figures having an angular locking tongue rojecting centrally from said joining side, {and some t having an angular locking groove extending into said side; said tongues and grooves having their sides disposed and shaped so that the figures may be interlocked and intimately juxtaposed to produce any predetermined structure regardless of Whether figures having a tongue alternate with figures having a groove, or whether all figures have a tongue, or all figures have a groove.

20. As an article of manufacture, a decorative figure the major form of which is'a right-angle triangle the perpendiculars of which are straight and uninterrupted, said figure having a tongue projecting from the center of its hypotenuse.

21. As an article of manufacture, a decorative figure, the major portion of which is a right-angle triangle the perpendiculars of which are straight and uninterrupted, said figure having means on its hypotenuse for interlocking with another figure.

LINDSLEY SCHEPMOES. 

